Folding gocart



Dec. 14 1926.

H. M. KUNIHOLM` FOLDI NG GOCART H. M. KUNIHOLM Dec. 14, 1926.

FOLDING GOCART Filed Dec. 29, 1924- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

llhlll@ PATE.

atraen HUGOM. KUNIHOLBI, OF GARDNER, BEASSACI-IUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T CHELDRENS VE- HICLE CORPORATION, OF EAST TEMPLETON, LASSACHUSETTS, A CORORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

.FOLDNG GOCART.

Application led December 29, 1924. Serial No. 758,529.

This invention relatesto a folding babycarriage or go-cart of the type in which the body is made largely of fabric or other flexible material and is removable from the frame when the car is to be folded.

It is the general object of my invention to improve the construction of the folding frame and of the nruiming' gear of such. a cart, to the end that the parts may be firmly held in operative position and that they may be quickly and easily foldable when so desired.

Important features of my invention relate to improved devices for locking and re leasing the handle of the gocart; to an improved oam mechanism'for folding the wh eel frame members; and to other arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly 20 pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is Shown in the drawings in which- F ig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved go-cart;

Fig. 2 is a partial end view thereof, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

F ig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the handle locking device, looking in thedirection of the arrow 3 in Fig. 2;

30- Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a of one of the latches;

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional plan view taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the parts in a different position.`

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, my improved go-cart comprises a main frame 10 12 are pivoted. Foldable braces 13 and 14 are provided at each side of the carriage to lock the head and foot frames in operative position, as shown in Fig. 1.

A handle 15 is provided with spaced side members 16 which are pivoted at 17-17 to the side members of the head frame 11. A cross brace 18 is preferably provided for the head frame at the point of attachment of the handle.

Each handle member 16 has a depending projection 19 extending below its pivot 17 for engagement by a latch 20. Each latch 20 (Fig. 4) comprises separated arms eX- 5 tending` on each side of a spring plate 21 to portion to which a head frame 11 and a foot frameV which the latch 2O is firmly secured. The spring plate 21 is; mounted on the head frame 11', preferably by inserting the end of the spring plate between the head frame 11'and an end of the brace 18. The arms of the latch 2O also embrace the head frame 11 and extend beyond the frame in position for engagement by the depending portion 19 of a side member 1 6 of the handle.

@ne of the latch arms is provided with a cam surface 22, so that the latch will be pressed yieldinglj.7 backward as the handle is swung to operative position. When once in position, however, the handle is positively held by the latch and cannot be foldedY until after manual release thereof.

For such manual release, a; lever 24 is pivoted at 25 to a downwardly extended portion of one of the spring .plates 21, and

alink 26 connects the lever to a correspondingly extended portion of the other spring 1 plate 21. As the lever 24 is pulled upward,

Athe spring plates 21 are pulled inward, thus simultaneously withdrawing` the latches 2U and releasing the handle 15. which may then be swung downward as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, to its folded position.

A bodyy 30 of any desired construction is supported from the head and foot frames 11 and 12, as by straps 81 and hooks 32, and is also preferably secured by a strap 33 and hook 34 to the mainframe 10. The body 30 is thuseasily removed whenever it is desired to fold the carriage or for any other purpose.

The wheels 1V are mounted on the wheel frameV members v and 41 (Fig. 7) which extend longitudinally of the main frame 10 and which are pivoted at 42 to depending end portions of the main frame.

For folding the wheel frames, l provide the wheel frames with cam bars 43 and 44, which are Vsubstantially identical in construction but which are secured to the framel members 40 and 41 in reversed positions, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. An actuator 45 (Figs. 1 and 6) is pivoted Vat 47 (Fig. 1)

to each side of the main frame 10. Up-A gages the wide end of the cam bar 43. This successive engagement moves the wheel frames and wheels successively to folded position, as indicated in Fiji'. 7, the wheel frame member il reaching its folded position somewhat in advance of the wheel frame member 40.

Villien unfolding the carriage, the parts move in the reverse order, and when nearly open the wheel frame members d0 and il engaged by cam portions 52 of the actuator which completes their movement to full operative position.

l'jy forming the cam bars 48 and All of identical construction, l reduce the number of different parts required in manufacture and by attaching them in reverse positions to the wheel frame members l obtain the successive action which is essential to this type of running gear.

When folding' the carriage or go-cart, the release lever :24 is lirst used to release the handle l5, which is thereafter smung downward, as indicated by he arrow a, in Fig. l. The braces 13 are then pullec upward enough to release the head frame member ll, which is then swung in the direction of the arrow Z in Fig. l, thus folding' the head frame ll and handle 15 Qainst the upper side of the main frame l0 and at the same time folding the running` against the lower side of the main frame l0. The foot frame l2 is then released and folded against the head frame ll. rhe entire frame and running gear is thus foldable to a very compact unit which may be easily carried aboard a car or taken into a house.

It will be understood that the body 30 is removed from the frame before the folding operation is commenced. This body 30 is also preferably collapsible so that it also may be folded to occupy a relatively small space.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages tlieieof l do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but'what l claim is tl. lin a folding 2go-cart, a main frame, wheel frame members pivoted at each end to an end of said main frame, means to fold said wheel frame members succe. sively against the under side of said main frame, a head frame foldable against the side of said main frame, an actuator fo wheel l' frames moi/able with said head frK a handle on said head frame foldable the outer si .e thereof, and a foot i foldable against said head frame and handle.

2. ln a folding` go-cart, in combiii' a head frame having two soaced side bers, handle having side members pivoterV to said head frame side members, a springl latch for locking each head frame sido ine/uu ber to the corresponding` handle side member, a release iandle lever pivoted to an extension of one latch, and a link conn-eci said lever to an extension on the other latch, whereby said latches may be simultaneously released.

a. in a folding go-cart, in combination,

a head frame having,v two spaced side members, a handle havine two side members pivotee. to said head frame side members,

HUGO M. KUNIHOLM. 

